Acta veterinaria Hungarica最新文献

Acipenserid species play an important role in aquaculture. Emerging viral diseases can cause high mortality on farms. During our investigations, Siberian sturgeon herpesvirus (SbSHV) was detected on a fish farm in Hungary rearing Russian sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii) and Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii). Herpesvirus infection may result in mortality rates up to 100% in young animals; on the other hand, adults usually suffer much less mortality. The affected fingerlings initially showed neurological symptoms and lost their appetite. Opaque deposits and haemorrhages were observed on the skin. After necropsy, samples were taken for virological and bacteriological investigation. A broad-spectrum PCR, developed for the detection of acipenserid and ictalurid herpesviruses (genus Ictavirus), was applied. The sequence analysis of the detected PCR fragment showed high identity to a previously described SbSHV strain originating from Russia. There is currently neither a cure nor an effective vaccine available on the market against this disease. Therefore, prevention and strict biosecurity protocols are the most important ways to keep the animals healthy.

The authors were the first to identify myxomatosis in brown hares (Lepus europaeus) in a hunting area in western Hungary. During the necropsy of brown hares, dermatitis accompanied by multiplex pustule formation and keratinisation disorders were observed primarily on the head, eyelids, ears and skin around the mouth. Subacute keratoconjunctivitis and catarrhal-purulent rhinitis were confirmed during the autopsy. In addition, multiplex, nodular pneumonia and hemorrhages in the intertubular space of the kidneys, as well as tubulonephrosis, were also observed. Hyperkeratosis and parakeratosis were seen in the epithelium, along with the appearance of myxoma cells and heterophil granulocyte infiltration. The lesions found in the hares, such as significant swelling of the eyelids and keratoconjunctivitis, significantly impaired the animals' orientation. The clinical picture observed by the authors was preceded by infection with Leporipoxvirus myxoma, a member of the Leporipoxvirus genus. This virus strain belonging to the same phylogenetic group as the classic Lausanne, Cornwall, Sussex, and Munich strains previously described in rabbits.

Reproductive technologies like artificial insemination (AI) and multiple-ovulation embryo transfer (MOET) are extensively used in cattle breeding, but their effects on the health and growth of calves remain unclear. This study evaluated the effects of AI and MOET on morbidity, survival and weaning weight in Holstein-Friesian heifer calves. A total of 366 calves (AI: n = 314; MOET: n = 52) were followed for 91 days from birth. Morbidity was classified based on the incidence and severity of diarrhoeal and respiratory disease. Weaning weights were contrasted with disease incidence. Statistical analyses included chi-square tests for categorical data and ANOVA for continuous data (P < 0.05). Survival and overall morbidity rates were not influenced greatly by reproductive technology. The prevalence of diarrhoeal disease was similar for MOET and AI groups (P > 0.05), but respiratory disease was greater and more severe in MOET calves (P < 0.05). Morbidity negatively impacted weaning weight in AI calves (P < 0.05) but had no significant impact on MOET calves. Season and colostrum quality significantly influenced survival, with greater survival rates noted for autumn-born calves and calves that received high-quality colostrum (>25% IgG) (P < 0.05). While reproductive technology had little effect on survival, MOET calves showed a heightened susceptibility to respiratory illnesses, highlighting the importance of targeted health management.

Saliva is a readily available biofluid that contains a wide variety of biomarkers similar to blood. In this context, sialochemistry offers a new non-invasive and animal-friendly diagnostic technique, which may ultimately replace traditional invasive blood-based testing. Saliva presents distinct advantages over blood as it can be collected by non-specialist personnel with minimal stress to animals and sialochemistry is a cost-effective and easily replicable technique. The present article highlights the emerging paradigm of salivary biomarkers and diagnostic feasibility of sialochemistry in veterinary medicine. The current state of knowledge of salivary biomarkers of infectious and non-infectious diseases with diagnostic value in domestic and wild/zoo animals is summarised. Evidence illustrated that salivary biomarkers are linked to animal diseases, immune status, stress and systemic inflammation in the body. The presence of economically important pathogens and antibodies in saliva makes it a profoundly useful specimen for early screening and redressal of disease outbreak. Diagnostically, zoo veterinarians find salivary biomarkers handy for health surveillance purposes. Saliva is anticipated to serve as an alternative diagnostic specimen to blood. Future research is sought to validate novel salivary proteins as disease biomarkers and eventually, formulate saliva-based point-of-care assays.

Foetal arterial catheterisation is an effective tool for conducting longitudinal in vivo studies on foetal blood gases and acid-base fluctuations. These surgical techniques have made obtaining daily blood samples under aseptic conditions feasible to determine arterial and/or venous blood gases and acid-base parameters. The present study aimed to elucidate the changes in arterial blood gases and acid-base variables obtained from a catheterised foetus during the final days preceding and during the calving process. It focused specifically on a case of primary uterine inertia and two typical cases. The average gestation length observed in three cows with chronically catheterised foetuses was 285 ± 10 days. The arterial and venous acid-base variables recorded in the three catheterised dams remained stable throughout the late gestation and calving phases. Similarly, these acid-base parameters remained consistent until the last 35 min before birth for Foetus B and until the last 22 min for Foetus A. At these points, physiological acidosis emerged in Foetus B, while moderate respiratory and metabolic acidosis developed in Foetus A until birth. In contrast, Foetus C experienced a gradual development of severe respiratory and metabolic acidosis during the last 8 h before birth, with continued deterioration observed in the 37 min leading up to birth. While there were no significant differences in the duration of electromyography (EMG) activities among the cows, a notable increase was recorded at 7 h before birth in Cow A and 15 h before birth in Cow B. Conversely, Cow C exhibited elevated EMG activity (>1,500 s*h-1) 8 h before birth. Additionally, during the last 3 h leading to birth in Cow C, a discernible reduction was noted compared to the other two cows. This case study highlights the importance of performing an exploratory vaginal examination when no clear clinical signs of stage one or any suspicious clinical symptoms, such as bloody vaginal mucus, are observed during the expected last day of gestation to prevent foetal mortality during calving.

In a preliminary survey study, the authors measured intraocular pressure in the right and left eye of 63 (32 females and 31 bucks) 3-8 month old, clinically healthy European brown hares (Lepus europaeus, Pallas, 1778). The mean intraocular pressure was 25.35 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) (n = 63), 25.4 mmHg for bucks and 25.3 mmHg for females. The average standard deviation was 4.86. The difference in intraocular pressure (IOP) between rabbits aged 3-5 months and 6-8 months was not significant, nor was the difference between females and bucks.

This study aimed to obtain the accuracy and precision of a refractometer compared to the biuret methods in measuring plasma total protein in cattle. The total protein concentrations were determined in 131 cattle plasma samples using the biuret and refractometry methods. Paired samples t-test values, Passing-Bablok regression equations and Bland-Altman plots were generated following statistical analysis of the total protein values. Statistical analysis revealed that the refractometer produced a significantly (P < 0.05) higher mean total protein value than the biuret method. The statistical precision and accuracy were 97.16% and 97.52%, respectively. The concordance correlation coefficient test (0.9476) showed a strong linear relationship between the total protein values obtained by the two methods and a moderate agreement between the two methods of total protein determination, but based on the Passing- Bablok analysis, both methods can be used independently. Furthermore, the CUSUM test for linearity with a large P of 0.10 also indicated a linear relationship between the two methods. The Bland-Altman plot indicated an analytical error of 3.0% which is clinically insignificant. The refractometry method was accurate with high precision for the determination of plasma total protein concentrations in cattle. It is portable, accurate and cost-effective.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of botulinum toxin type A in rat model of experimentally induced osteoarthritis. The experiment was conducted on 30 male Sprague-Dawley rats. Osteoarthritis was induced via intra-articular injection of MIA at a dose of 3 mg per rat. The efficacy of intra-articular injections of 10 U BoNT-A and 20 U BoNT-A was assessed through body weight monitoring, knee circumference measurements, leg posture scoring, as well as X-ray, µCT and histopathological examination. Data were analysed using repeated measures ANOVA, generalised linear model, Kruskal-Wallis test, independent samples T test and Mann-Whitney U test. BoNT-A administration led to a significant decrease in body weight and a significant increase in lameness scoring. No significant change was observed in knee circumference measurements by the end of the study. While X-ray evaluations showed no significant differences, micro-CT analyses revealed statistically significant changes. In conclusion, BoNT-A produced statistically significant yet clinically negligible effects on pain and bone parameters. Additionally, higher doses (20U) of BoNT-A were associated with adverse effects.

In this study, the effect of dietary buckwheat on rat testicular tissue was investigated. In the study, 28 male Sprague Dawley rats were used. The rats were randomly divided into four equal groups. The Control Group was fed with a diet containing 36% wheat, Group-1 with 12% buckwheat and 24% wheat, Group-2 with 24% buckwheat and 12% wheat and Group-3 with 36% buckwheat. At the end of the study, the expression levels of Bcl-2, Caspase-3, P38-MAPK, STAT3, JAK2 and PI3K genes were analyzed by Western blot analysis. As the proportion of buckwheat in the diet increased, caspase-3 gene expression increased, but the expression of other genes decreased. In testicular histology, the structure of the Control Group and Group-1 was preserved, while deterioration was observed in the other two groups. Since this damage would also affect spermatogenesis and spermatozoa in the epididymis, subsequent spermatologic analysis showed a significant decrease in semen quality in Group-3. It was concluded that 12% buckwheat supplementation positively affected the testicular structure and semen quality of rats, while 36% buckwheat supplementation negatively affected the testicular structure and semen quality.

In late November 2021, a male serval (Leptailurus serval) which had escaped from an unknown holding facility was observed in the Bükk Mountains of Northern Hungary. A few days were needed to capture the animal with a live trap, after which it was transported to a national Rescue Centre at the Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden. The exact origin of the specimen was never identified and apart from being emaciated, it seemed only to be stressed and weakened by the cold weather and starvation. Contrary to the initial fair prognosis, 2.5 days after admittance, the animal rapidly developed pronounced respiratory and central nervous system signs and despite intensive treatment died within a few hours. The subsequent diagnostic investigation revealed that the cause of death was SARS-CoV-2 infection. These diagnostic steps excluded other possible, lethal felid pathogens as causative agents and confirmed that the disease process was attributed to this virus.